Re:The big alcohol study that didn't happen
by danachow on Monday October 04, 2021 @01:55PM
(#28750133)
You’re hung up on GABA, but it has little to do with alcohol other than being part of the physiology of physical dependence.
LD50 for benzos is already “really high” - that is not an issue. Alcohol affects other neurotransmitter pathways other than GABA. That isn’t even the one responsible for the psychological dependence. So a GABA-A agonist with a high LD50 exists in multiple (benzos), but it’s not an alcohol substitute. There is a reason why these medications are used for acute withdrawal, but are not used for treating dependence.
Also, being addicted to benzos is far more debilitating than the “vaping” equivalent - this has been well studied since they had their heyday in the 70s. They’re quite harmful for chronic use except in very limited circumstances.
Maybe synthahol might be a thing - I mean you’re probably closer with something like ecstasy - but a GABA agonist isn’t it.
LD50 for benzos is already “really high” - that is not an issue. Alcohol affects other neurotransmitter pathways other than GABA. That isn’t even the one responsible for the psychological dependence. So a GABA-A agonist with a high LD50 exists in multiple (benzos), but it’s not an alcohol substitute. There is a reason why these medications are used for acute withdrawal, but are not used for treating dependence.
Also, being addicted to benzos is far more debilitating than the “vaping” equivalent - this has been well studied since they had their heyday in the 70s. They’re quite harmful for chronic use except in very limited circumstances.
Maybe synthahol might be a thing - I mean you’re probably closer with something like ecstasy - but a GABA agonist isn’t it.